House panel okays anti-cybercrime bill

May 31, 2011

MANILA, Philippines – The House committee on communications and information technology has approved an anti-cybercrime bill, which aims to protect individuals and institutions from cyber attacks.
The panel, chaired by Taguig City Rep. Sigfrido Tinga, also rejected last-minute proposals from law enforcement agencies, particularly the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), to remove the legal requirement of a court warrant before telecommunication firms disclose data on the mobile phone usage of subscribers.
Approved was House Bill 383 or the “Cybercrime Prevention Act,” principally authored by former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which seeks to criminalize the use of the Internet for illegal activities.
Co-authors include her son, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo, Tarlac Rep. Susan Yap, Ilocos Sur Rep. Eric Singson Jr., Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, Pampanga Rep. Carmelo Lazatin, Marikina Rep. Marcelino Teodoro, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, and Buhay party-list Rep. Mariano Michael Velarde Jr.
“People from all walks of life may fall prey to fraudsters and other unlawful attacks such as committing fraud, child pornography, intellectual property infringement, stealing of identities and privacy violation,” said Mrs. Arroyo.
She said the proliferation and ease of committing cyber crimes make it necessary “to ensure the security, integrity, confidentiality and dependability of the country’s information and communications structure.”
“A law that will facilitate the detection, investigation and prosecution of the misuse, abuse and illegal access of our information and communication system is therefore imperative,” Arroyo said.
It is the policy of the state to provide an environment conducive to the development, acceleration and application of information and communication technology (ICT) to attain free, easy and intelligible access to exchange and/or delivery of information, the lawmaker said.
“There is a need to protect and safeguard the integrity of computer and communication systems, networks and database, and the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information and data stored therein, from all forms of misuse, abuse and illegal access by making such conduct punishable under the law,” she said.
Arroyo argued that the state “must have sufficient powers to effectively prevent and combat such offenses by facilitating their detection, investigation and prosecution at both the domestic and international levels, and by providing arrangements for fast and reliable international cooperation.”
The approval of the bill came with some amendments, including on jurisdiction, removing limitation on the nationality of those involved and the coverage of the impact area of the crime; making lewd exhibition on cyberspace per se a crime; and including threats to life and threats to national security as limits/requirements for an issuance of a court order for the interception of data.
The measure also penalizes cyberstalking and defamation over social media.
Tinga said that while the bill recognizes freedom of expression, it has to be within the confines of what is acceptable.
The measure adopted the definition of terms as used in the Budapest Convention.
The bill provides penalties ranging from P200,000 to P1.25 million and imprisonment of prision mayor.
NBI officials present during the hearing wanted the legal requirement for court warrants to be removed but this drew harsh reactions from lawmakers.
“You’re violating the law,” Arroyo said. “What’s the basis of the issuance of warrant? You cannot issue warrant just because you want to tap someone. It has to be defined. Otherwise you have a police state.”
The “Hello, Garci” election fraud scandal was triggered by the recording of the former leader’s telephone conversation with a poll official.

Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=691489&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Wine is becoming increasingly popular in Manila and other cities in the Philippines. Wine lovers in Manila travel to the north to visit Clark, Pampanga to shop for good and rate vintage wines at good duty-free prices. The most frequently visited liquor shop in Manila and wine shop in Pampanga is Clark Wine Center. This highly recommended wine shop located outside Manila near Angeles City, Pampanga in North Luzon is known for offering a great selection of fine vintage wine that is good quality and good value for money also.

This well-known wine shop is a famous shopping destination for wine enthusiasts in Manila and wine lovers from other cities in Asia including Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Osaka and Tokyo.

Famous Philippines wine supplier known for its line of fine vintage wines, Yats Wine Cellars was established in 2000 to address the requirement of a growing population of wine enthusiasts in the Philippines. This 5-star wine shop caters to the discerning client who requires these qualities in their wines: (1) excellent value, (2) large selection of labels and vintages to choose from and (3) wines properly aged for full enjoyment.

Public wine tastings are held from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive.

Yats Wine Cellars Philippines
3003C East Tower, Philippines Stock Exchange Center (Tektite)
Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Metro Manila, Philippines
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Kristine

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

For inquiries and orders, Click here to for inquiries and orders

For wine lovers in Hong Kong, Macau and China:

Yats International HK Sales Office,
Room 1302, 13/F., The Centre Mark
287-299 Queen’s Road Central Sheung Wan,
Hong Kong SAR

Tel: (852) 2788-0738 ask for Miss Eva Leung

Wine@Yats-International.com

If Philippines is part of an upcoming travel and holiday plan, wine lovers might want to visit Clark Freeport Zone just 70 minutes from Manila. This bustling new city that is slated to replace Manila as the new capital of the Philippines has the largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center. For more information, log on to

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

If you are traveling to Pampanga, Subic, Angeles City, Clark Freeport, Philippines, you can get assistance to hotel and resort booking by logging on to
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com